Police Arrest 14 Suspects for Murder, Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 14 persons allegedly involved in murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and other vices in the state.

Parading some of the suspects yesterday at the Police headquarters, on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emeka Nwonyi, said that the arrests were made within one week, across different areas of the state.

He said that operatives of the command arrested one Baridi Berefon for alleged killing of two victims who were securing Trans-Niger Pipeline, an SPDC’s facility in Bodo community, Khana Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner of police explained that the suspect is a member of dreaded cult group that have been terrorising the area.

Nwonyi said: “Operatives of Kpor Division on Friday, August 25, 2023, received a distress call from one Mene Joseph Kpai of Gokana, that a group of Islander Cultist, believed to be supporters of the deposed paramount ruler of Bodo Community, attacked and shot dead two persons at Trans-Niger Pipeline, Sugi Bodo where they were securing SPDC’s facilities as community volunteers.

“The victims who were immediately rushed to Dumkil Hospital Kpor for medical treatment were confirmed dead by the Medical Doctor on duty, while one suspect Baridi Peter Berebon ‘m’ aged 31yrs was arrested.”

The police boss said that investigation is ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects allegedly involved in the murder of the community volunteers, securing the oil pipelines.

Also arrested, were two suspects who allegedly kidnapped an 11 years old child in Abuloma community, Port Harcourt LGA.

Speaking on the incident, Nwonyi said that “on Monday, August 21, 2023, at about 5:00 p.m., following a discreet investigation into the kidnap of an 11-year-old child from Okuru-ama, Abuloma, Port Harcourt, our operatives arrested the principal suspect, Mr. Ben Marvelous Geoffrey (30), in Oron, Akwa-Ibom State.

“Another gang member, Israel Ikereminror, (29), was arrested in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt. Both suspects, natives of Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, have confessed to the crime.”

He said that efforts are being made to apprehend the remaining gang members and recover their operational weapons.

In another development, a suspected kidnapper was killed in the process of collecting N3 million ransoms for the released of an abducted victim within Choba axis, in Obio/Akpor LGA.

According to the state commissioner of Police, “police operatives of the command attached to the C4i Intelligence Unit, on Monday, August 28, 2023 at about 5pm while acting on credible intelligence, around Choba axis arrested one Promise Ebi (38) of Lobia Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, who led the kidnap of one victim (name withheld) on August 5, 2023, around Uniport, Choba axis, and was later released.

“The same kidnappers called the victim’s line and collected another N20 million. On Monday, August 28, 2023 at about 6:30 p.m., same kidnappers called the released victim to bring N3 million to the Choba area of Rivers State, where one of them met his waterloo.

“He was later rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for treatment but later died. The victim’s SIM card was recovered from him, while efforts to get other suspects are ongoing.”

Meanwhile, the CP has appealed to residents of the state to actively support the police operatives in their continued active combat against all forms of criminal activities within the state.

Nwonyi said: “Your cooperation and information are invaluable in our quest to maintain the peace and security of this great state”.